I’ll start with last Winter’s 23/24 Devon Winter League. The prone section entered 5 teams and as always, did very well, with the A team coming 3rd in Division 1 and the C and D teams coming 1st in their respective divisions. The D team consisted of some very new shooters and was therefore a brilliant result. The team entering the North Devon League also came 1st.
The Easter Bunny Shoot held at Budleigh Farm on the 50m range was very well attended by prone, bench and LSR shooters. This is a Pinhoe-run shoot, and it is hoped it will be even better attended next year. Chocolate and bacon sandwiches, what more can a person want.
Then we move onto the summer shooting. We entered into the 50m/100yd league run by the NSRA and our A team came 2nd and the 50m only team came 1st. This is another great achievement as they were competing against the top teams in the country.
Roxy M, one of our up-and-coming juniors, was chosen to represent the Peninsula Regional Target Squad (formally the Lower Southwest Regional Rifle Squad), at Bisley in the Junior International competition in August, with teams entering from across the world. Roxy came a very credible 9th. Our junior section is growing from strength to strength.
In August, for a week of competition, a group of Pinhoe prone and benchrest shooters went to Bisley and competed against the rest of the country and again did exceptionally well. At this meeting Robert was chosen to shoot for Wales in the Home Countries International Match. Pinhoe had the honour of representing Devon in the Astor Cup, which is against the other counties in the UK.
Roxy and Paul Batten shot in the Halloween Shoot at Budleigh Farm. Paul was 1st in Class A and Roxy was 2nd in Class B.
On the 24th November, our two club champions, Peter Hobbs and Lindsay Agates, will shoot shoulder-to-shoulder to see who this year’s Prone Champion is in the Southwest.
This year’s Devon Winter League and National competitions are underway. We have had a bit of a shaky start, but I am confident we will once again do well. Two of our juniors, Roxy and Daniel are shooting in the Devon Junior Team.
Robin Batten has revived the Pinhoe Trophy to be competed for on 9th Nov. This competition had been run for many years prior to Covid, and it’s great to see it back.
The Polar Bear League is in full swing. This is a 50m league, shot outdoors through the winter. Already, after only 2 rounds Robin Batten is lying 1st in Div 4 and Robert Beard is 1st in Div 9. Let’s hope it doesn’t snow!
The prone rifle section is ever growing thanks to the helpers on our beginners Wednesday evening sessions and to Robin Batten who takes the improvers on a Monday evening. Long may it continue.
